I recently stumbled across this article "Why are soldiers ordered to break their marching steps while crossing a bridge?" (The Times of India) where a claim is made:

When soldiers march in three files over a bridge, they generate a rhythmic oscillation of sine waves on the bridge. At a certain point, the bridge would start oscillating to the same rhythm as that of the marching steps.
This oscillation would reach a maximum peak when the bridge can no longer sustain its own strength and hence collapses. Therefore, soldiers are ordered to break their steps while crossing a bridge. (Emphasize mine)

Is it true that column of marching soldiers has to break their rhythm while crossing a bridge to prevent its collapse?

I recently stumbled across this article "Why are soldiers ordered to break their marching steps while crossing a bridge?" (The Times of India) where a claim is made:

When soldiers march in three files over a bridge, they generate a rhythmic oscillation of sine waves on the bridge. At a certain point, the bridge would start oscillating to the same rhythm as that of the marching steps.
This oscillation would reach a maximum peak when the bridge can no longer sustain its own strength and hence collapses. Therefore, soldiers are ordered to break their steps while crossing a bridge. (my emphasis)

Is it true that column of marching soldiers has to break their rhythm while crossing a bridge to prevent its collapse?

Among the drill commands there is "Route step". Wikipedia reads:

"Route step" - Individuals walk normally without being in step. Often used on long marches or when crossing a bridge to avoid creating harmonic rhythms.

Yet, I came across this road sign:

So, investigating on this "fact", I stumbled across this article "Why are soldiers ordered to break their marching steps while crossing a bridge?" (The Times of India) claiming:

When soldiers march in three files over a bridge, they generate a rhythmic oscillation of sine waves on the bridge. At a certain point, the bridge would start oscillating to the same rhythm as that of the marching steps.
This oscillation would reach a maximum peak when the bridge can no longer sustain its own strength and hence collapses. Therefore, soldiers are ordered to break their steps while crossing a bridge. (Emphasize mine)

Is it true that column of marching soldiers has to break their rhythm while crossing a bridge to prevent its collapse?

I recently stumbled across this article "Why are soldiers ordered to break their marching steps while crossing a bridge?" (The Times of India) where a claim is made:

When soldiers march in three files over a bridge, they generate a rhythmic oscillation of sine waves on the bridge. At a certain point, the bridge would start oscillating to the same rhythm as that of the marching steps.
This oscillation would reach a maximum peak when the bridge can no longer sustain its own strength and hence collapses. Therefore, soldiers are ordered to break their steps while crossing a bridge. (Emphasize mine)

Is it true that column of marching soldiers has to break their rhythm while crossing a bridge to prevent its collapse?

Among the drill commands there is "Route step". Wikipedia reads:

"Route step" - Individuals walk normally without being in step. Often used on long marches or when crossing a bridge to avoid creating harmonic rhythms.

Yet, I came across this road sign:

So, investigating on this "fact", I stumbled across this article "Why are soldiers ordered to break their marching steps while crossing a bridge?" (The Times of India) claiming:

When soldiers march in three files over a bridge, they generate a rhythmic oscillation of sine waves on the bridge. At a certain point, the bridge would start oscillating to the same rhythm as that of the marching steps.
This oscillation would reach a maximum peak when the bridge can no longer sustain its own strength and hence collapses. Therefore, soldiers are ordered to break their steps while crossing a bridge. (Emphasize mine)

Is it true that column of marching soldiers has to break their rhythm while crossing a bridge to prevent its collapse?

Among the drill commands there is "Route step". Wikipedia reads:

"Route step" - Individuals walk normally without being in step. Often used on long marches or when crossing a bridge to avoid creating harmonic rhythms.

Yet, I came across this road sign:

So, investigating on this "fact", I stumbled across this article "Why are soldiers ordered to break their marching steps while crossing a bridge?" (The Times of India) claiming:

When soldiers march in three files over a bridge, they generate a rhythmic oscillation of sine waves on the bridge. At a certain point, the bridge would start oscillating to the same rhythm as that of the marching steps.
This oscillation would reach a maximum peak when the bridge can no longer sustain its own strength and hence collapses. Therefore, soldiers are ordered to break their steps while crossing a bridge. (Emphasize mine)

Is it true that column of marching soldiers has to break their rhythm while crossing a bridge to prevent its collapse?